For
the ninth consecutive year, MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® of Cape Cod
and Old Friends of Kentucky are teaming up again for an
unparalleled online shopping experience that began January 1st,
2018 with their "Hats
Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby"auction.This
unique Derby hat fundraiser is an annual event which features
one-of-a-kind couture Derby hats created and donated by Sally
Faith Steinmann of MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS®to
benefit the retired racehorses of Old Friends.

Our
first eight years of the fundraiser have been a great success,
and to date nearly $34,000 has been raised for the retired
racehorses of Old
Friends Thoroughbred Retirementfacility.

The
fourth and final Derby hat up for bid in our 2018 auction series
pays tribute to dual classic winner and 1999 Horse of the Year,
Charismatic. We all remember jockey Chris Antley's heroic efforts
in the 1999 Belmont when Charismatic broke down just several
strides before the finish line; Antley's quick judgment as he
held Charismatic's injured left front leg saved this great
stallion's life that day. Charismatic,
after returning to the United States late in 2016 from stud duty
at the JBBA Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan, died on February
19, 2017 at Old Friends, where he had been pensioned since
December 3, 2016.

The
“Charismatic” chapeau is up for bid from April 1st
through the 11th.

All
proceeds from the sale of the “Charismatic” hat go to
Old Friends.

Special
thanks to Krystal Court, her husband, jockey Jon
Courtand
their daughter Aubrey for helping us with this year's “Hats
Off to the Horses” fundraiser that supports the retired
racehorses of Old
Friends Thoroughbred Retirementin
Kentucky.

Aubrey's
hatinator is part of the new 2018 Derby Hat Collection by
MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS®; although not included in the auction,
it is available for purchase from MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS®.

This
unique four month Derby hat auction, which runs from January 1stright up to Derby
Day, features a new Derby hat design each month that has been
created and donated by Sally Faith Steinmann of MAGGIE MAE
DESIGNS®to honor the beauty
and spirit of one of the retired racehorses at Old Friends. All
of the proceeds from this running auction will benefit the
retired thoroughbred racehorses now living at Old Friends. Old
Friends and its founder, Michael Blowen, are well known in racing
circles for the exceptional care they give racehorses that are
too old for racing or breeding. We thought a fundraiser honoring
several of the more than 150 retirees now living at Dream Chase
Farm was the perfect way to celebrate the road to the 142ndKentucky Derby.

Each month the
featured auction hat will be posted on this website and the Old
Friends website. Each hat will be available for bidding for
10 days only.
For
the month of April we are featuring the “Charismatic”
chapeau which is up for bid from
April 1stthrough
the 11th.

To
bid, please go to the
Old
Friends websiteand
click on the link provided after the first of each month. Winners
will be announced each month (unless they prefer to remain
anonymous) and on the first day of the following month a new
one-of-a-kind millinery creation will be placed up for bid to
celebrate another resident of Old Friends. For further
information about the eBay bidding process, please contact Old
Friends at 502-863-1775.

Freight charges for
shipping the hats will be at the expense of the winning bidders.
Winning bidders, please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery of your hat
in order to ensure custom sizing.

In a 2007 CBS
interview, Michael Blowen of Old Friends was asked why he wanted
to help Thoroughbred racehorses and not some other worthy cause.
He replied, “Everyone has a little spot in the world. One
tiny little dot. This is my dot.” Michael's love and
respect for the horses in his care are evident in his every word
and action, and his dream for the farm is really coming true. Old
Friends is indeed a haven for the retired racehorses who live
there and a marvelous outreach for educating the public about the
needs of all horses.

Michael
Blowen, President/Founder of Old Friends

MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS®
has a dot as well, and we want to help. By donating these custom
Derby hats to Old Friends we are hoping to connect the
dots by bringing the world of hat couture and equine aftercare
together as we help Michael with his dream. Instead of two
isolated dots, this unique online hat auction creates a
connection between us. It is our way of giving something back to
the world of horses and at the same time offering someone the
chance to own a beautiful one-of-a-kind Derby hat by MAGGIE MAE
DESIGNS®!

"Sally
Faith Steinmann's works of millinery art have raised thousands of
dollars and a priceless amount of awareness for all these great
retired athletes. Their stunning beauty and indescribable
originality symbolize what one great artist can do to positively
alter the lives of so many deserving athletes." - Michael
Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends

To
read more about Charismatic, the horse, please click on the
following link - Featured
Horse.

Please
join me in thanking all of the wonderful organizations listed
in the above poster who have joined us this year as “Friends
of Old Friends” to help spread the word about
our “Hats Off to the Horses” fundraiser.

All
designs and content on this site are the sole property of
MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS®. Images and content cannot be
reproduced for any commercial purpose without express,
written permission of MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS®.